Endoscopic Transpapillary Gallbladder Drainage for Recurrent Cholecystitis after Covered Self-expandable Metal Stent Placement for Unresectable Malignant Biliary Obstruction.

A 76-year-old woman with advanced pancreatic cancer developed recurrent cholecystitis after covered self-expandable metal stent (CSEMS) placement. The cholecystitis was refractory to repeated percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD). Cholecystography showed a patent cystic duct with right and cranial side bifurcation, which is indicative of an increased likelihood of success of endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (ETGBD).

The useful predictors of zinc deficiency for the management of chronic liver disease.

Background: Zinc deficiency is likely to occur in chronic liver disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of zinc deficiency in different types of chronic liver disease and to identify the factors that predicted low serum zinc levels.

Methods: The study was an observational single-center design.

Changes in the Mean Intrahepatic Target Computed Tomography Attenuation Value During Treatment May Be a Useful New Predictor of the Post-progression Survival Associated with Lenvatinib Treatment.

Objective The relationship between the prognosis and magnitude of a decrease in tumor blood flow according to estimated tumor differentiation remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between reductions in the rate of mean computed tomography (CT) attenuation values and the clinical prognosis. Methods We evaluated 63 consecutive patients who received lenvatinib treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Pretreatment Positron Emission Tomography with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose May Be a Useful New Predictor of Overall Prognosis Following Lenvatinib Treatment.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the utility of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) as a predictor of overall prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib.

Methods: Forty-eight consecutive patients who received lenvatinib treatment were reviewed. The oncological aggressiveness of tumors estimated using 18F-FDG-PET/CT was investigated by the analysis of progression-free survival (PFS), post-progression survival (PPS), and overall survival (OS).

Lenvatinib-Transarterial Chemoembolization Sequential Therapy as an Effective Treatment at Progression during Lenvatinib Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of additional treatment, especially lenvatinib-transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) sequential therapy, for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Consecutive 56 patients who underwent lenvatinib treatment were reviewed. Oncological aggressiveness of tumor was estimated using a dynamic CT enhancement pattern classification, and clinical impact of subsequent treatment was investigated through analysis of progression-free survival (PFS), post-progression survival (PPS), and multivariate analysis of potential confounders for survival after progression during lenvatinib therapy.

An encapsulated bulky abdominal abscess due to amoeba.

We report a rare case of amebiasis associated with an intraabdominal abscess without colitis, an intestinal perforation, or other extraintestinal amebiasis. A patient was admitted with cirrhosis and a history of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and was found to have a high C-reactive protein (CRP) level. Dynamic CT and ultrasound echo findings showed an intraabdominal abscess.

Potential and Clinical Significance of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Evaluating Liver Cancer Response to Lenvatinib Treatment.

Background: The sensitivity of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is low; however, clinical evidence demonstrating its prognostic value in patients with HCC has recently been reported. This study aimed to assess the value of 18F-FDG-PET/CT as a tool for evaluating the response of HCC to lenvatinib treatment.

Methods: We evaluated 11 consecutive patients with HCC diagnosed by dynamic CT or magnetic resonance imaging combined with 18F-FDG-PET/CT from April 2018 to December 2019.

Non-invasive predictors of prognosis of Asian patients with histopathologically-confirmed lean nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: The prognostic factors of morbidity and mortality in patients with lean NAFLD (body mass index < 25.0 kg/m) are unknown.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 446 Japanese patients with histopathologically-confirmed NAFLD (lean NAFLD, n = 170) were followed for liver events, cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and non-liver malignancies.

Efficacy and Safety of Ramucirumab in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Progression after Treatment with Lenvatinib.

Objective A survival benefit was demonstrated for ramucirumab (RAM) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations ≥400 ng/mL who had previously received sorafenib (SOR). However, it is unclear whether RAM has a similar efficacy in patients with uHCC that progresses after lenvatinib (LEN) treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the early anti-tumor response to RAM as a second-line treatment for advanced uHCC after LEN treatment.

Effects of alcohol consumption on multiple hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with fatty liver disease.

Aim: The number of patients with fatty liver disease (FLD) is increasing globally. Ethanol consumption in FLD is known to be associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the effects of alcohol consumption on the occurrence of multiple HCCs remain unclear. We explored the relationship between the daily ethanol intake and the HCC number.

Diagnosis and Resection Treatment of Triplet Hepatocellular Carcinomas with a non-B non-C Background in a Middle Aged Man over a Period of 6-years.

We report a 71-year-old man with non-B non-C chronic liver damage who had been regularly visiting our hospital since he was 38 years of age. He underwent three partial hepatectomies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed at 65, 67, and 71 years of age, respectively. A histopathological examination showed moderately-differentiated HCC, and chronic hepatitis with mild fibrosis stage in non-tumor areas.

Preventive Effects of Pentoxifylline on the Development of Colonic Premalignant Lesions in Obese and Diabetic Mice.

Obesity and its related metabolic abnormalities, including enhanced oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, are closely related to colorectal tumorigenesis. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative, has been reported to suppress the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and possess anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated the effects of PTX on the development of carcinogen-induced colorectal premalignant lesions in obese and diabetic mice.

Skeletal muscle depletion is an independent prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Skeletal muscle depletion or sarcopenia has been identified as a poor prognostic factor for various diseases. The aim of this study is to determine whether muscle depletion is a prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We evaluated 217 consecutive patients with primary HCC.

Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe of the liver.

Aim: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a promising alternative to hepatic resection for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) located in the caudate lobe. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of RFA for HCC located in the caudate lobe compared with HCC located elsewhere in the liver.

Methods: Overall, 555 consecutive patients treated by RFA for a single HCC tumor of less than 3 cm diameter, were enrolled in this study, including 20 patients with HCC located in the caudate lobe.